A
Duke. A Runner. An Earl.
Three men, each born into different circumstances.
Each fighting to overcome their own adversity.
All striving to change their past.

As
much as Nathaniel Frederickson, bastard brother to the Duke of Wesbrook,
loathes the status and consequence of his lowly birth, he has reinvented
himself by becoming London’s leading Bow Street Runner. But no matter his success
or his charm, he never seems to be good enough.

Lady
Annabel Baines, self-professed bluestocking, has one goal in life. To create a
legacy for her deceased mother by ensuring the success of her school for young
ladies. Even if it means being beholden to a man intent on ruining her life,
forcing her to make impossible, heartrending choices.

Assigned
to recovering stolen artifacts, Nate is thrust into Anna’s privileged world. To
make matters worse, he is forced to protect her from a mysterious threat she
refuses to acknowledge. While fighting Anna’s stubbornness—and his unwanted
fascination with the spoiled chit—Nate becomes the renewed target of a
blackmailer thought to be destroyed . . . while a killer sets his sights on
Anna.

His longer stride allowed him to reach her before she vanished into the shadows of the entry. Securing her elbow, he directed her to an empty room off to the left of the foyer. Time to remind Lady Annabel exactly who is in charge.

His quick maneuver only allowed for her to sputter in resistance. As soon as the door clicked shut, she yanked free and rounded on him. “How dare you mistreat me in such a way!”

The flash of fire in her eyes held him spellbound. Gone was the perfectly put together gentlewoman. In her place stood a wild and captivating woman. The kind of woman he would easily welcome into his bed.

At his silence she continued, “I should have you dismissed for your impertinence.”

With the return of the haughty noble, the spell was broken. The heat simmering in her glare would never melt the coldness born of the nobility.

His touch hadn’t been anywhere near brutish, but he recognized the meaning beneath her objection. “Forgive me, princess, for soiling your precious sleeve with my dirty hand.”

Given the narrowing of her eyes, she knew, as well as he, his hands were as clean as hers.

“I would never—”

He didn’t give her the chance to launch into a lecture. He’d brought her here for a purpose. “We need to set a few things straight.” He ignored her sharply indrawn breath. “Firstly, I’m not your lackey. You may have the rest of England on a tether but you’ll never have me. I’m here to do a job and I’m not about to let an overindulged, spoiled brat stand in my way.”

So much for being reasonable. There was just something about the petite Lady Annabel that provoked him beyond anything he’d experienced before. More than just her title stirred his blood. Even when faced with the most condescending members of the ton, Nate still managed to hold onto his dignity and poise.

The entire mission might be manageable if she understood he would be the one setting the course. Moreover, if there was a threat to her safety, her rushing headlong into a situation could get her hurt—or even killed.

“Secondly, I am not your lap dog. I won’t sit and stay on command. Or obediently follow where you lead. If you have somewhere you absolutely must be, you will inform me before we go gallivanting all over England. Your father hired me to do a job and dammit, I will do it the best way I know how. Which doesn’t include you dictating our every move. I am the professional, after all,” he tacked on for good measure.

Given her glowering expression, she’d comprehended every word. And had found issue with each one.

Oh, hell. She was about to become indignant. The last thing he needed was an overwrought silk-stocking who felt the world had wronged her. Why couldn’t Lawson have sent him to some corner of the country lacking the delicate sensibilities of the nobility? He’d have gone to Scotland if need be.

Just when Nate thought he had her pegged and was prepared for her vicious onslaught, she took a steady breath and her eyes cleared like a passing storm.

Her voice held complete calm when she answered, “Mr. Frederickson, since you found it within yourself to speak so . . . honestly . . . with me, I feel I should return the courtesy. First, I will concede you are the expert. My father wouldn’t have entrusted myself—or his collection—to anyone less than capable. However, I’m not about to set aside my freedoms on what we both know to be an overreaction on my father’s part.”

She paused while he remained silent. In all honesty, he wasn’t sure how to respond. In the last minute, she’d destroyed every expectation he had.

He didn’t get an opportunity to think on it as her eyes suddenly narrowed and pinned his boots to the floor. He felt like a wayward student who’d spoken out of turn. “I have never in my life treated someone as a lap dog. No matter if their arrogance demanded it. If you are looking for someone who has acted childish, Mr. Frederickson, I suggest you place yourself in an empty room and look in a mirror. Overindulged, spoiled brat indeed!” Her chest expanded with visible outrage as she finished chastising him.

Q & A with Addie Jo Ryleigh

What books/authors have influenced your writing?

There have been many authors who have influenced my writing. These would be wonderfully talented ladies who introduced me to historical romances and made it impossible for me not to fall in love with the genre. Most notably would be Karen Hawkins, Sabrina Jeffries, Stephanie Laurens, Victoria Alexander, Eloisa James, and Julia Quinn. There have been many more over the years (and probably a couple I’ve forgotten) but these ladies are some of the originals I adore.

Tell us something you hate doing. Why?

Grocery shopping. It isn’t fun. It isn’t rewarding and it is never-ending. I feel like I’m doing it all the time but with three growing boys, I suspect it will be torturing me for some time.

What's your pet peeve?

Most of my pet peeves occur while driving. But one of the biggest ones is when someone uses their turning signal AFTER they are already IN the turn lane. Ummm…what would be the purpose of that? You’ve already moved out of the driving lane and are sitting in the turn lane. Obviously you are turning. And why couldn’t you have turned it on 15 seconds earlier when you were making your move into the turn lane?

When you are in writer mode, music or no music? If music do you have a playlist

Music, very much so! I love music. As for a playlist, I wouldn’t even know where to begin. I love all genres and all ranges. For a while my surefire way of discovering new music was from watching movies and purchasing soundtracks from my favorites. There is usually a huge variety of music on a soundtrack. Despite owning well over 2,000 songs that I have synced on iTunes, when I’m writing I typically use Pandora and adjust the station based on my mood. I’ll listen to everything from oldies to current rock to country. It all depends on the day.

What’s you next project?

I have two project I’m currently working on. I’m in the process of finishing book three in the Men of Circumstance series (THE EARL’S UNDOING). It will conclude with Marcus’s story. Marcus is a very notable earl who finds himself struggling between being the man he vowed to be and the woman he finds himself bound to. I can’t wait to see how he figures it all out. I also recently started a new exciting project. I’m a part of The Soul Mate Tree project with Soul Mate Publishing. It will be a novella collection that, when complete, will include thirteen different stories. My contribution, ONCE UPON A LADY, is a historical romance and has a release date of November 2017. It is still very new but I’m enjoying where it is going. You can find more information on both on my website.

What's the one thing, you can't live without?

This might be the writer in me but I couldn’t live without books. It is often a struggle for me to balance my time between writing my own books and reading all the books I have on the to be read pile. There is nothing better than getting lost in a book…yep, totally the writer in me.

What is your favorite movie (song)?

I wish I could give you a list…a very long list. Once upon a time I thought I wanted to be a movie director when I grew up, so you can about imagine how much I love movies and how many I could classified as a favorite. But one of my all-time favorite movies is Love Actually. I love how all the stories and characters are intertwined, to the point where you might miss some of the connections the first time you watch it. And there are so many love stories with so many happy endings in one movie.

Clean shaven, Scruff, beard, or mustache.

I’m good with either clean shaven or scruff. Though I’d probably gravitate to scruff (which is why Nate in THE RUNNER’S ENTICEMENT sports some sexy scruff). Even a well-groomed goatee would be okay. Some men can easily pull off a beard or a mustache (and I’m more than good with that) but if describing the “perfect male specimen” a lot of facial hair would not be on the list.

Addie Jo Ryleigh writes historical
regency romances that feature rakish heroes and strong feisty heroines. Addie
Jo lives in the same cold winter and hot summer area of Minnesota where she was
born and raised. And frankly, wouldn’t live anywhere else. Sharing in the
raising of her three extremely rambunctious boys is her very understanding
husband that so graciously enabled her to fulfill her dream of writing. Keeping
Addie Jo company while she writes (besides her wonderfully loud children) is
her yorkipoo, Bella, who is never far from Addie Jo’s side.

Addie Jo
has always had a love and passion for romance books and became engrossed in
historical romance (particularly Regency) soon after graduating from Lurlene
McDaniel’s young adult books. Currently, Addie Jo reads any genre that has a
great emotional story that keeps her reading into the early hours of the
morning.

Addie Jo
has a bachelor degree in accounting and is a financial coordinator when not
driving her children around central Minnesota, cuddled up with a good book, or
writing her next story.

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Love can heal and love can make you soar, but sometimes love can break a soul… Can Nathan and Olivia heal when hearts have been broken beyond repair? Visit the world of Knight Fashion in SEXIEST COUPLE ALIVE by M. Clarke….

About SEXIEST COUPLE ALIVE Nathan Cross is living his dream. Not only is he modeling for Knight Fashion Magazine, recently voted “sexiest man alive,” but he is dating a beautiful photographer who could be his new future. When he unexpectedly reunites with his past love, his world crashes around him. Two loves. The past or the future: which one will he choose?

Olivia’s past choices come back to haunt her and could ruin everything she has worked so hard to build. Troy has the power to destroy any hope of happiness. She will do everything to keep that from happening, even if it means giving up her second chance with Nathan. Lies. Revenge. Scandal. Olivia could lose it all.

BODYCHECKING Game On in Seattle #7 Jami Davenport Released April 30th, 2016 Cedona Enterprises

As the wild child of
the family, Bellani Maxwell isn’t interested in settling down. Between a
fledgling party crashing business, teaching self-defense at a martial arts
studio, and hitting the bar every night, she has her hands full. She doesn’t
need the added responsibility or commitment of a relationship. Hockey star Cedric
Pederson has all the puck bunnies he could ever want, but a chance encounter
eighteen months ago leaves him with eyes only for the gorgeous, free-spirited
Bella. Too bad she isn’t interested in what Cedric has to offer beyond frequent
hookups, and he’s grown tired of their on-again, off-again non-relationship. He
wants to be all-in or all-out. When a brutal attack
leaves Bella in need of comfort, protection, and healing, the only person she
wants is Cedric. But once she’s living in his condo, Bella is confronted with a
decision she’s been…

Readers looking for something a little different will love The Change Up by Elley Arden, a twist on the traditional billionaire romance. Out now! The Change Up (Arlington Aces #1) by Elley Arden Follow the tour and enter to #win a grand prize of $25.00 Amazon gift card and a signed bundle of the Kemmons Brothers series!